Graduate Nursing at Winona State

Thank you for your interest in Winona State University’s Graduate Programs in Nursing!

Grounded in an environment of scholarship, the mission of the WSU Department of Nursing is to educate knowledgeable Caring, Ethical, Creative, and Accountable nurse leaders who provide person- and relationship-centered care for individuals, families, groups, communities and populations in a diverse society.

This mission is based on the beliefs that:

A caring, diverse, and respectful community provides the best environment for students to learn how to care for themselves and others;

Optimal learning to care for self and others occurs in a caring, diverse and respectful community;

Faculty and students are accountable for maintaining and modeling professional standards of moral, ethical, and legal conduct;

Recognizing and valuing human diversity is essential to person- and relationship- centered care;

Individuals have different ways of knowing and learning about the world;

Creativity and innovation contribute to continuous quality improvement and sustainability;

An enriched learning environment is the responsibility of faculty, staff, and students;

Effective nurse leaders engage in continuous professional development and lifelong learning

Courses are offered in a variety of delivery methods, i.e., one day per week on campus, online, or in a hybrid format. Hybrid format involves attendance on campus or in synchronous web-based meetings up to four times per semester with the remainder of the course in a web-based platform.

Students in the Nurse Educator and Nursing and Organizational Leadership programs can choose a Distance Option that is a three-year plan with all courses offered in hybrid format. Students in other programs are also able to access their required courses via hybrid format.

Programs provide specialized knowledge and practice opportunities in each advanced nursing role. Winona State University Graduate Programs in Nursing is delighted to have a Clinical Placement Coordinator positioned on the WSU-Rochester Campus.

WSU Graduate Nursing students are extended the opportunity to work closely with the Clinical Placement Coordinator to arrange clinical settings. The Clinical Placement Coordinator will gladly provide more information regarding clinical offerings.

Students choosing the Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program are prepared to provide and manage health care of the acutely ill and the critically or chronically ill adult patient in a wide range of settings. AGACNP practice includes decision-making, both independently and interdependently; and is directly accountable for clinical judgments.

In addition to the nursing science core and direct care core courses, content includes differential diagnosis and disease management; diagnostic and therapeutic interventions to manage acute and critical health problems; participation in and use of research; development and implementation of health policy, leadership, education, case management; and consultation with emphasis on interdisciplinary therapeutics. Clinical practicums under the supervision of qualified acute care provider preceptors will focus on acute care in a variety of specialty areas.

The clinical scholarship project is completed by all DNP students and involves demonstration of knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care in a variety of settings and for a variety of populations. The Post-Master's DNP program is designed to integrate the students into the existing sequence of courses leading to preparation as an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP).

The Post-Master's DNP program provides nurses who already have a Master's degree as Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner the opportunity to acquire the DNP education preparation. The Graduate Certificate (GC) is for nurses who have completed a previous graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program and desire to prepare for certification as an AGACNP. Graduates are eligible to take the American Nursing Credentialing Center's (ANCC) national board certification AGACNP exam.

Students who elect the Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) program are prepared to perform an expanded nursing role as primary health care providers. In addition to the nursing science core courses and the direct care core courses, content includes comprehensive assessment of the health status of adults, children and families; diagnosis and management of common acute and chronic health problems; provision of counseling and teaching in areas of health promotion and disease prevention; and collaboration with other health professionals. Clinical practicums are under the supervision of qualified nurse practitioners or other primary care provider preceptors will focus on primary health care in a variety of settings.

The Graduate Certificate (GC) is for nurses who have completed a previous graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program and desire to prepare for certification as an FNP. The clinical scholarship project is completed by all DNP students and involves demonstration of knowledge and skills to enhance the quality and safety of health care in a variety of settings and for a variety of populations. Graduates are eligible to take the American Nursing Credentialing Center's (ANCC) or the American Academy of Nurse Practitioner Certification Program's (AANPCP) national board certification FNP exams.

In 2007, WSU was selected for the “National Outstanding Faculty Practice Award" from the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF).

Psychiatric-mental Health Nurse Practitioner

Students choosing the Psychiatric-mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) program are prepared with specialized knowledge, skills, and abilities to provide care across the lifespan to individuals, families, groups, and communities with behavioral and mental health problems/disorders or the potential for such problems. Clinical practicums under the supervision of qualified preceptors will focus on psychiatric-mental health care in a variety of specialty areas with a rural emphasis. The Graduate Certificate (GC) is for nurses who have completed a previous graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program and desire to prepare for certification as a PMHNP. Upon completion of this graduate certificate program, students are prepared for eligibility for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s PMHNP examination.

Gainful Employment Disclosure

The U.S. Department of Education requires colleges and universities that have any financial aid eligible programs that “prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation” to disclose certain information, such as program costs; occupations that the program prepares students to enter; occupational profiles; and the number of students who have completed the program.

Students who elect the Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist
(AGCNS) program will develop, test, and practice the role of clinical
nurse specialist with the adult-gerontology population. Extension of
advanced nursing practice roles of expert clinician, leader/manager,
teacher, consultant, and researcher will be demonstrated within the
framework of clinical nurse specialist practice in adult
health/gerontology nursing.

Clinical Nurse Specialist students will demonstrate competencies in three spheres of influence: patient/client, nurse/nursing personnel, and systems/ organizations. Students who choose the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree program in this area complete additional coursework in the areas of applied biostatistics, epidemiological approaches population health, select electives, and a clinical scholarship project conducted within the clinical setting. Graduates with the MS and DNP award are eligible to take the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist certification exam.

The Graduate Certificate (GC) is for nurses who have completed a previous graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program and desire to prepare for certification as an AGCNS; GC graduates are also eligible to sit for the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist exam. Some of the courses are offered using distance teaching strategies and one course has been developed to acquire the skills and education for prescriptive authority in Adult-Gerontology Clinical Nurse Specialist practice.

Nurse Educator

Students who elect the Nurse Educator (NE) program are prepared to teach
in an academic or health care setting. In addition to the nursing
science core and direct care core courses, content is offered in
knowledge and skills related to the teaching/learning process in
nursing, as well as curriculum and program design, instruction,
assessment, and evaluation. Students practice teaching under the
guidance of preceptors in academic and health care settings. Graduates
with the MS award are eligible to take the National League for Nursing
Certified Nurse EducatorCM (CNE) Examination after two years of
full-time employment in the academic faculty role.

The Graduate
Certificate (GC) is for nurses who have completed a previous graduate
degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing program
and desire to prepare for certification as an NE; GC graduates are also
eligible to sit for the National League for Nursing Certified Nurse
EducatorCM (CNE) Examination after two years of full-time employment in
the academic faculty role.

Students who elect the Nursing and Organizational Leadership (NOL)
program are prepared for administrative and leadership positions in a
health care setting. In addition to the core courses, content focuses on
elements of a nursing care system; the responsibilities of the Nursing
and Organizational Leader in research, education, and clinical practice;
human resource management; fiscal accountability; information and
project management; the functions of the Nursing and Organizational
Leader in the organization and system; and on issues and trends in
nursing organizational management. Clinical practicums in advanced
nursing for the Nursing and Organizational Leader emphasize management
of clients, nurses, other health care personnel and resources.

The
Nursing Leadership Practicums offer students the opportunity to apply
nursing leadership and administrative principles under the guidance of a
qualified preceptor. Graduates with the MS and DNP award are eligible
to take the American Organization of Nurse Executives exam to become
certified as an Executive in Nursing Practice (CENP) exam after two
years of practice as a nurse executive.

The Post-Master's DNP is
designed to integrate the Post-Nursing Master's students into the
existing sequence of courses leading to preparation as a DNP Nursing and
Organizational Leader (NOL). This option provides nurses that already
have Master's degree preparation as a NOL the opportunity to acquire DNP
education preparation, and to develop their knowledge and skills in the
principles and practice of nursing administration leadership.

The
Graduate Certificate (GC) is for nurses who have completed a previous
graduate degree in nursing from a nationally accredited graduate nursing
program and desire to prepare to take the American Organization of
Nurse Executives Certified in Executive in Nursing Practice (CENP) exam
after two years of practice as a nurse executive.

Students who elect the Practice and Leadership Innovations (PLI) emphasis are prepared to develop innovations in practice and leadership. In addition to core courses, content focuses on leadership in practice, organizational leadership, and the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovations. Students will be allowed to tailor their program with electives that advance their knowledge of practice, innovations, and/or leadership. Students will be prepared to lead innovations, advance practice, and improve healthcare outcomes. Clinical practicums in advanced nursing for the Practice leadership Innovations emphasis enable students to develop and lead a practice and/or leadership innovation project with attention to the impact on the organization and human/financial implications. The Nursing Leadership Practicums offer the students the opportunity to apply nursing practice, leadership, and innovation principles under the guidance of a qualified preceptor.

The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) has scheduled an accreditation onsite evaluation of the WSU Graduate Programs in Nursing Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program and Post-Graduate APRN Certificate program for Oct. 21 –23, 2019.

Students, faculty, and other interested parties may submit, in writing, comments regarding a program’s qualifications for accreditation by Sept. 30, 2019 from the attached webpage.

New Program

Addressing Psychiatric Mental Health Needs

Winona State University, Graduate Programs in Nursing has been approved by Minnesota State and the Higher Learning Commission to offer a Psychiatric-mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) Baccalaureate to Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) Program. More information can be found at Doctor of Nursing Practice.

Application

Graduate Programs in Nursing utilizes an online application through NursingCAS.

AGACNP Program Change

Beginning with the Fall 2019 application cycle, Graduate Programs in Nursing will no longer accept applications to the AGACNP Master of Science degree program. We will continue to accept applications to the AGACNP Doctor of Nursing Practice and Graduate Certificate programs. The last cohort of AGACNP Master of Science program students must apply by October 1, 2018 for Summer 2019 start.

Practicum/Clinical Placement

Practicum/clinical placement is arranged for all students admitted to the programs. Placement occurs in designated regional clinical affiliate sites. Admission to the Nurse Practitioner programs is considered on a regional basis, contingent upon the availability of regional clinical affiliate sites.